NORWALK, Conn. -- This serene Southern Connecticut coastal city received a group of special guests in July. They came from half a world away, making a short visit before heading to Rio de Janeiro in August.For three weeks, the Swim Seventy Aquatic Center, a swanky private facility, was home to the Chinese Olympic swim team. Far away from the intense media attention in Beijing, the Olympians trained twice a day, putting the finishing touches to their preparations for the worlds biggest international sporting event.Leading the Chinese squad was Sun Yang, the countrys No.1 swimmer and two-time gold medalist at the 2012 London Games. By 10 a.m. each day, he would arrive at the center to begin warm-ups and individual drills. The entire pool was busy with the metronome rhythm of strokes, splashes and training.He looks pretty good, a member of the coaching staff told Zhang Yadong, Suns personal instructor.Hes been in a good mood lately. Zhang said with a smile.Looking back at the preparations in the past month or two, everything is pretty good, Sun told ESPN.com in an exclusive interview.But for Sun, as well as people around him, this kind of optimism has been hard to come by since the 24-year-old suffered a foot injury during a January training session in Australia.Suns mother, Yang Ming, said her heart thumped after learning of her sons injury. Sun also told Chinese state media news agency Xinhua that the injury was so painful he almost cried.In the following months, Suns injury shadowed him, as well as entire Chinese team. The road to recovery was long and tedious. He began to walk on crutches in February. By March, he was able to swim, relying on strength from only one leg. Little by little, Sun was overcoming fear while racing against the clock.Some lost some progress in training because of the injury, Sun said. I was doing my best to overcome the obstacles and come back tenaciously.Prior to coming to Connecticut, Sun was training by himself in California, surviving a dull and arduous period filled with countless drills and treatments, as well as a two-hour daily commute to and from the facility.Sun tried to keep everything to himself. Speaking to ESPN.com, Suns mother pulled up a photo on her cell phone, showing Suns body and arms covered with medical patches after a treatment.He wont let me take pictures or share them on WeChat [a Chinese mobile social media platform], Yang said. I took this one secretly.With the help from his family and the swim team, Suns recovery was speedy. Last June, he won the 200-meter freestyle competition at the 2016 Arena Pro Swim Series in Santa Clara with a 1:44.82 result, the best record in the world so far this year.In Rio, Sun will compete in 200-, 400- and 1,500-meter freestyle events. To defend the 400 and 1,500 gold medals he won four years ago in London, Sun will have to face several challengers. One is Italys Gregorio Paltrinieri, who won the 1,500 freestyle gold at last years World Swimming Championships after Sun withdrew from the final due to injury.In the 400 freestyle, Sun will face South Koreas Park Tae-hwan, a tough foe in the pool but a friend outside of it, who lost the gold to Sun in London. In the 200 freestyle, Sun will meet Japans rising star Kosuke Hagino, Great Britains World Swimming Championships gold medalist James Guy, and 27-year-old American Conor Dwyer.I am happy with my confidence level. Sun said. I havent swam a lot this year, but I feel like I am in pretty good shape after competing in two events. Everything, including my final sprints, has increased a lot compared to two years ago. The recovery has also been pretty good.As Chinas best swimmer, Sun carries the heaviest weight, trying to help his country get ahead on the medal counts list. To ensure Suns training quality in Norwalk, the Chinese team provided him with the best practice time slots, a team doctor and a therapist, as well as his own car.As a defending Olympic champion to compete this year, he said, I think I will have an edge over my rivals in terms of confidence and experience.Outside the pool, the 6-foot-6 Sun is a big basketball fan. He shoots hoops with his father during free time. While in California, Sun watched this years NBA Finals Game 5 in Oakland, witnessing LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers start their comeback back from a 3-1 deficit.I love watching Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors, but at that moment I wanted LeBron to win, because he is the best, he said.The Chinese swimming team has since left Connecticut for Rio, and will settle into the Olympic Village in early August. Three weeks of training in the U.S. has allowed Sun to get into his best form. But now he just has to prove he is the best.On Monday, Sun Yang wrote on his Weibo (a Chinese social media platform): Third time heading to the Olympics, it is my utmost responsibility to win honor for my country. Ill strive to make my dream come true. No matter how harsh and exhausting the training is, I have no complaints or regrets. Rio, here we come. Air Max 90 Ez Pas Cher . Canada is now down to its 22-player limit, although but players wont be registered until Christmas Day. 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Ryan Garbutt had a goal and two assists as Dallas snapped a six-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night.After Michael van Gerwens thrilling draw with Phil Taylor, we picked out the talking points from night seven in the Premier League. Things are hotting up with the play-off picture taking shape and the battle to avoid elimination set to go to the wire.This weeks trip to Glasgow proved pivotal at both ends of the table, so with Judgement Night just two weeks away, we look back on another terrific evening of tungsten action. Power a major threat Taylor remains level on points with Premier League leader Van Gerwen He may not have won but Phil Taylor showed that he will be very much in the shake up for major titles this year.The Power came from 5-1 and 6-4 down to register a 6-6 draw with Michael van Gerwen, who missed three darts to win the match in the 11th leg.By his own admission the 16-time world champion had a disappointing 2015 but told Sky Sports this week that he has got his love and appetite for the game back and that was evident on stage in Glasgow. Van Gerwen missed three match darts as Taylor came from 5-1 behind to draw And perhaps the shorter forms of the game are where the Power can add to his major tally - the Premier League final is played over no more than 21 legs and that might just suit Taylor.The draining format of the World Championship can take its toll but the Matchplay in Blackpool and the quickfire Premier League may just suit a rejuvenated Taylor, who has already admitted the top four is his target in order to be back at the O2.Taylor last won the title in 2012 and after missing out on Finals Night last year, few would bet against him being in contention this yearWelcome home champ Gary Anderson picked up four points in front of his Scottish fans The Glasgow crowd were in attendance in their thousands as they welcomed home the back-to-back world champion and defending Premer League champion Gary Anderson.The Flying Scotsman now resides in Somerset but is always assured of rousing reception when the Premier League heads north of the border and the Hydro crowd did not disappoint as they welcomed him with one of the best atmospheres weve experienced this season.After Anderson missed the opening night in Leeds, the 10,000 strong crowd had their champ on stage twice and he kicked off with a repeat of the World Championship final against Adrian Lewis. Premier League recap Look back on night seven of the Premier League Anderson had won the last four Premier League meetings between the two and he made it five with a dominant display against an inconsistent Lewis for a 7-4 win.MC John McDonald cranked up atmosphere and when House of Pains Jump Around kicked in the welcome for Anderson was rapturous.A 13-darter followed by an early break of throw delighted the masses, who responded a chorus of Oh Gary Gary.Anderson was back for more in the last match of the night. In a battle of Scotsmen, his victory over Peter Wright sent the masses into the Glasgow night happy and Anderson into the play-off places for the first time this season with a second win of the night and fifth straight win in the format.Whats gone wrong for Chizzy? Dave Chisnall suffered his third straight loss (Pic by Lawrence Lustig) Its three straight defeats for Dave Chisnall after losing a crunch clash with Raymond van Barneveld - both men have been in free fall of late but it was Barney who produced a five-leg surge from 3-2 down for a 7-4 win that should keep him in the competition for an extra few weeks.dddddddddddd.Chisnalls 7-0 win over Robert Thornton seems light years away and its now four defeats in a row for the man from St Helens, who only has a two-point advantage over the Scotsman and Michael Smith.Chisnall faces Anderson next week before a Judgement Night showdown with Wright - he may need at least two points in some capacity to preserve his Premier League status.Signs of life from ThornThornton remains bottom of the table but there were signs of life from the Scot in Glasgow that suggest he is up for the battle to avoid relegation.Despite a fifth defeat from six matches the Thorn averaged 101 and hit more than two 180s for the first time in the competition as he went down to a battling 7-4 defeat to James Wade. Robert Thornton (right) can draw confidence from his defeat to James Wade A single break was enough for the Machine, who moved into the top four, while Thornton is two points adrift at the foot of the table but with a game in hand over Michael Smith and Dave Chisnall. He plays Smith next week before Judgement Night.Rod Harrington believes there was improvement from the two-time major winner.The first six legs he held on to his throw at three legs apiece, Harrington told Sky Sports.You thought then he just needs to put one really good leg together to nick the throw and he would have a chance of his first win.But all of a sudden it was him who had the bad leg, Wadey stuck in a good leg and you have to give James credit - he is playing so solidly at the moment and he got over the line.There was improvement from Thornton but just a few too many edgy legs.Top spot up for grabs Van Gerwen will be determined to hold off the chasing pack The battle for the next two weeks will be at the bottom as the scrap to avoid relegation goes to the wire, but a quick glance at the top of the table suggests there could be a new name on top of the regular-season standings.Michael van Gerwen has topped the last three renewals and before him Taylor had topped the first eight editions of the tournament.The Dutchman currently sits top of the pile by one leg from The Power, with the pair just one point clear of Anderson and Wade, who complete the top four. Taylor had a message for Van Gerwen after their Premier League draw Anderson and Wade are previous winners of the competition and will pose a huge threat to the big two - Taylor would love to pinch top spot, MVG admits he wants to finish top. Lewis, despite his inconsistency, is only three points back and would be a threat if he can find his best on a more regular basis.It could be quite a battle before we even get to the O2. Also See: MVG and Taylor duke out draw WATCH: MVGs 170 checkout Fixtures/Results Prem Table ' ' '
